Land purchases in tsunami-affected prefectures to be monitored

An old Tsunami street sign reminds residents of the height of the last Sanriku Tsunami in 1933. The March 11 Tsunami went further inland than the above sign.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism announced on August 1 that plans have been made to monitor land transactions made in tsunami-affected prefectures in Northern Japan. From now on, experts are predicting a sudden jump in prices for elevated land in the disaster-stricken areas, so the three affected Prefectures of Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima will be monitoring and sharing the data of land transactions.

As the coastal areas that were devastated by the March tsunami move towards rebuilding, there is growing fear that the elevated tracts of land that escaped the tsunami will see steep price rises as real estate companies and developers seek to buy up the land.Read more

by Zoe Ward

New housing starts predicted to fall below 800,000 units by 2020s

With the spillover effects from the sluggish Japanese economy causing new housing starts to decrease, the number of vacant properties to increase and the move towards long-life housing, experts are predicting the number of new housing starts to fall below 800,000 units by the early 2020s.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Retro apartment in the heart of Omotesando

Price: 37,800,000 Yen SOLD
Location: Kita-aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Price per sqm: 866,000 Yen

This vintage apartment just behind Omotesando Station has had a full renovation with new natural wood floors, all new water pipes, and new kitchen and bathroom. The renovation was planned by Keiji Ashizawa Design firm - their work is often featured in international design magazines such as Wallpaper, I.D. Magazine and Elle Decor.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Nomura announces new "Ohana" apartments

Nomura Real Estate has announced plans to develop a new brand of low-cost condominium apartments under the new "Ohana" brand. While Nomura's most well-known "Proud" series of apartment buildings are typically priced from 50 ~ 60 million Yen per apartment, the "Ohana" apartments will be priced between 20 ~ 30 million Yen (255 ~ 385,000 USD) each. They hope to sell over 1000 apartments per year with an annual sales target of 30 billion Yen.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Yotsuya Co-Plus - Japan's first privately developed condominium apartment

Yotsuya Co-Plus is Japan's very first privately developed condominium as well as the first of the "Co-Plus" series of apartments.

Although the first condominium was the Miyamasuzaka Apartment built in 1953, this was built by the public housing commission.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Apartment Survey: 40% say now is the time to buy

The latest results from a survey by real estate market research company, Attractors Lab, has shown that only 40% of respondents believe that now is the time to buy an apartment. In April, the month following the Tohoku disaster, that number was 45%.

The same survey was also conducted four times between April, 2010, and January, 2011, and each time over 60% of respondents indicated that they thought it was the right time to buy.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Increased risk of large quake in Miura-hanto fault group

  • Earthquake risk has increased as a direct result of Tohoku earthquake
  • 11% chance of Magnitude 6.7 quake occurring within the next 30 years

The Japanese Government's Earthquake Research Committee announced on July 11, 2011, that the March 11 Tohoku earthquake has increased the chance of an earthquake occurring along the Miura-hanto fault group.

It has been predicted that there is a 11% chance that the Miura-hanto fault group will produce an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.7 within the next 30 years. This fault group is classified among the most active faults in Japan.

Experts warn that a large earthquake caused by the Miura-hanto fault group could produce a Read more

by Zoe Ward